Mother and daughter who died off West Mersea named by family as tributes paid

Tragic - a 42-year-old mother and her 15-year-old daughter died yesterday. (File photo)

A MOTHER and daughter who died after getting into difficulty in the water off the coast of West Mersea have been named by their family.

Shally Rahman, 42, and Samiha Rahman, 15, were reportedly visiting from east London with their family, when tragedy struck yesterday evening (July 22).

A seven-year-old boy remains in a serious condition in hospital. Two other people are in hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Following reports of multiple people in distress in the water at Sea View Holiday Park, West Mersea, we dispatched multiple resources including our Hazardous Area Response Team, critical care paramedics and two air ambulances to the scene.

“Sadly, despite best efforts, two patients could not be resuscitated. One patient was transported by air to hospital, and a further three patients were transported by road to hospital.”

Essex Police were called by the ambulance service after reports that several people had got into difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue.

Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher said: “Today, our thoughts remain with the family members who are coming to terms with their loss.

“We are grateful to the people who have already spoken to us and helped with our enquiries. We would ask anyone who was at the beach at the time, and who has not yet spoken with officers, to please get in touch, to help us understand what happened.”

Police have urged anyone who was in the area at the time, and has information or footage which may assist the investigation, to call 101 and quote incident 1090.

The incident has shocked residents of Mersea Island, which lies in the Blackwater and Colne estuaries, near to Colchester.

Bob Jenkins, Mayor of West Mersea, told the BBC: “This incident is extraordinarily rare and very saddening.

“I'm sure I speak on behalf of the whole community here - that we all pass our sincere condolences to the family and friends and we'll be thinking of them at this very difficult time.”